Folding lantern.



M. L. WILLIAMS.

FOLDING LAN TERN.

APPLIOATION rILEp un.so.19o8.

902,036. Patented not. 27,'1'908.

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M. L. WILLIAMS. FOLDING LNTERN.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 30. 1908.

902,036. Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

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MARTIN L. WILLIAMS, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

FOLDIN'G LANTEBN.

Speciflcaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed. March 30, 1908. Serial No. 424,144.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, MARTIN L. VVILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of VVashington, have invented a new and useful Folding Lantern, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention consists of improvements in pocket lanterns and has for its objects to provide a lantern which Will fold into a flat and compact form, and which will inclose, When folded, all the parts thereof.

A further object is to Jrovide a suitable handle which will keep coo and to provide a lamp which burns a suitablesolid fuel and therefore, as soon as it is cooled, will not spill or grease any article with which it may come in contact.

I attain these objects by the devices and mechanisms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the lantern ready for use, showing the dark slide and the glass front partially broken away. Fig. 2 is a front view of the lantern folded up Fig. 3 is a rear view thereof; F ig. 4 is an end view thereof; Fig. 5 is horizontal cross-section thereof, and Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section thereof in its folded osition. Fig. 7 is a plan showing, especial y, the top of the lantern unfolded; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the lantern partially unfolded; Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross-section of the lantern unfolded, showing particularly the lamp therein; Figs. 10 and 11 are side and front views, respectively, of the hanger or handle, and Fig. 12 is a side elevation showing the method of supporting the lantern on a vertical pin.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

This lantern consists of two metal side plates 1. and 2 respectively, hinged to ether at the back at 3 and connected toget er at the top and bottom by top and bottom triangular plates, which are themselves formed of two plates 4 and 5 hinged to each other by the hinges 6 along their centers and each hinged to the adjacent plates 1 and 2 by the hinges 7 and 8, respectively. The

directed through a considerable angle.

side plate 1 is perfectly flat but the side plate 2 has a triangular recess 9 presse'd out therefrom adapted to receive the triangular lamp 10 when the lamp is not in use and the lantern is folded. The plates 1 and 2 are preferably made of bright metal to form a reflector for the lamp 10. The. top andbottoni plates have a series of holes 1-1 arranged around them whereby a uniform current of the air is provided for the perfect combustion of the lamp without smoking. These plates are also separated at their central hinges 6, as is particularly shown in the top plate in Fig. 7. The hinge pins 12 of this top plate are provided with heads 13 and the. space between them is reserved for the hanger or handle 14, the heads 13 being provided so that the thin metal of the handle 14 cannot get wedged between the joints of the plates at the hinges 6.

The main hinge pintle 15 of the hin e 3 between the plates 1 and 2 is formed ho low so that,` if desired, the lantern can be supported by placing this pintle 15 over a vertical supporting pin or screw 30 as in Fig. 12. This method of supporting the lantern is very firm yet allows the lantern to be turned on a pivot so that the light therefrom cannle e front edges 16 and 17 of the two plates 1 and 2, respectively, are turned inwards, as shown in the various views, so that when the lantern is folded the edge 17 overlaps the edge 16, and a pair of indentations 18 are made in them so that when these edges overlap the indentations will engage and hold the lantern in its folded position. When the lantern is unfolded these bent edges 16 and 17 form a frame or holder for the front glass 19. This glass is made slightly smaller than the side 1 and fits neatly on the inner side thereof when the lantern is folded, and also eXtends between the front edges 16 and 17 of the sides 1 and 2 when the lantern is unfolded. When it is in use the glass 19 rests on the top of the lamp 10 and extends slightly above the top lates 4 and 5 of the lantern. This tends to eep the upper part of the glass cool so that it may readily be raised to blow out the lamp.

A front dark slide 20 is also provided, be-

ing practically of the same size of the glass 19, and is provided with a hole 21 at such a point that the flame of the lamp 10 will be in line therewith. A shutter 22 is pivoted to the dark slide 20 and is adapted to cover the hole 21 when desired and to be withdrawn therefrom.

The lamp 10 is substantially triangular shaped but has rounded corners and its Sides 23 are drawn inward from the corners, so that when it is in position for burning, as shown in Fig. 9, the air comes through the holes 11 in the bottom plates 4 and 5, risesthrough the spacesv thus formed between the Sides 1 and 2 of the lantern and the Sides 23 of the lamp. I have found that this form gives the steadiest light without smoking the lantern. The lamp 10 is formed of two plates pressed to form a box and i'itting together, the upper plate having a hole 24 near its center, the sides of the hole being depressed. The wick 25 of the lamp 10 consists of a small piece of asbestos paper coiled into the form shown in Figs. 5 and 9. The fuel which I prefer to use for the lamp 10 is commercial paraffin, which fills the entire space 26 between the plates of the lamp 10 and which rises somewhat into the hole 24 in the upper plate and around the wick 25. The paraffin is placed in the lamp by simply meltmg it thereinto, and the capacity of the lamp which 1 have illustrated is such that the paraffin will last for a continuous burning of about two hours. VVhen, however, the paraffin runs low, all that is necessary to do to refill the lamp is to take a stick of parafi`m, hold it near the ilame of the lamp and allow it to melt and run thereinto. The solid paraffin within the lamp fills the joint between the plates and holds them firmly together.

When the lamp is in use the upper and lower plates 4 and 5 of the lantern, do not open quite flat, so that the lamp rests only on the central hinge 6 of the lower plates, as shown in Fig. 1, thus giving plenty of space for the air to enter therethrough and pass between the bottom plates 4 and 5 and the lamp 10, and between the side plates 1 and 2 and the Sides of the lamp as above described.

The handle, or hanger, 14 consists of a Strip of metal having a ring 27 at its upper end and having a keeper or pin 28 at its lower end; the lower end is, however, cut as shown in Figs. 7, 10 and 11 to form a side Spring catch 29 so that when the lantern is placed on a support and the handle is reeased, the handle will not fall downwards into the lamp, for it would then hang very close to the flame and become heated; the catch 29 prevents this by engaging the top of the plate 4. When the lantern is folded, however, the top plates 4 and 5, as they fold toward each other, press this catch 29 so that ,ose

it will pass through the space therebetween and the entire handle 14 slips down into the interior of the lantern, the ring 27 thereof only remaining above the hinge 6. i

It will readily be seen that the lantern will fold into very small space. To fold the lantern the glass 19 is withdrawn from the front position and is placed against the inner side ofithe side 1, the lamp 10 having been removed from its position; then the dark Slide 20 is placed against the glass 19; then the top and bottom plates are pressed inward so that the Sides 1 and 2 will fold toward each other; before these Sides are closed, however, the handle 14 is ushed down and the lamp 10 is inserted in t ie recess 9 provided therefor in the side, as above described; then the Sides 1 and 2 are closed and the front edges 16 and 17 are lapped, and the entire lantern can then be placed in the pocket.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a folding lantern, the combination of two side plates hinged together; top and bottom triangular bodies, each consisting of two similar triangular plates, each of said last plates being hinged together in pairs and to bodies can be folded inwards together and said side plates can be brought into parallel planes, and whereby saidI top and bottom bodies can be unfolded into substantially horizontal planes and said side plates opened to form the body of the lantern a transparent plate adapted to be held between the ends of said side plates when they are eXtended, and adapted to be placed adjacent the inner side of one of said side plates when they are folded; a triangular recess in the other of said side plates; and a triangular lamp adapted to rest above the bottom body when said side plates are extended, and within said recess when said side plates are folded.

2. In a folding lantern, the combination of two side lates hinged together; a hollow hinge pintle for the hinge of said side lates; top and bottom triangular bodies, eac i consisting of two similar triangular plates, each of said last plates being hin ed together in pairs and to the side plates, w iereby said top and bottom bodies can be folded inwardly together and said plates can be brought into parallel planes, and whereby said to and bottom bodies can be unfolded into su stantially horizontal lanes and said side plates opened to form tie body of the lantern; a transparent plate adapted to be held between the ends of said side plates when they are eX- tended, and adapted to be placed adjacent the inner side of one of said side plates When they are folded a metal dark slide plate having a hole therein and adapted to be Iplaced outside of said transparent late; a shutter pivoted to said dark slide plate and the side plates, whereby said top and bottom adapted to cover the hole thereof; a trianguhaving a s ring catch forined thereon to hold lai' recess in the other of said side :)lates; a said hand e above said lantern. 10 triangular lamp adapted to rest above the l Signed at Tacoma, Washington, this 4tl1 bottom body When said side plates are eX- l day of March, 1908.

tended, and Within said recess When said side MARTIN L. VVILLIAMS.

plates are folded; and a hanger handle hav- Witnesses: ing a pin at its lower end adapted to engage 1 J. W. BRO'CKWAY,

under the plates forming the top body and i J. A. Roos. 

